Locals ride in national event today in DC

Bike owners Bill Livingston, left, and Bob Ciccio, watch Rob Wilson of Wilson's Auto Pro Detailing as he fills their tires with Nitrogen Saturday Aug. 7, inside the Market of Marion in Belleview, Fla. The two men are getting their bikes ready for the 2 million bikers ride to Washington DC.

Jon Singley/Star-Banner

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.

It wasn't pretty, but tens of thousands of bikers, including a contingent from the Ocala area, rode in and around Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, despite not having a permit, in remembrance of those killed in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Ocala's Bob Ciccio, who made the 800-mile trip to Washington with several other area riders, decided to make his ride around the city on Interstate 495, also known as the Capital Beltway.

“I was disappointed I couldn't ride past the capitol, but maybe next year,” he said.

Thousands of other riders, however, roared through the city on the originally planned route, which toured the area of the National Mall, the site of many of the country's iconic monuments.

The rally, called “2 Million Bikers to DC,” was quickly put together starting in August. In denying the last-minute permit application by the the group, the National Parks Service said they could not offer the adequate number of escorts and security. But the denial of the permit did not stop many from their original purpose. Because of the denial of the no-stop permit, bikers riding through the city on Wednesday had to stop at all traffic lights and obey traffic laws.

“We have a constitutional right to ride those streets. We pay taxes. We are tax-paying Americans. We have the right to ride those streets,” Belinda Bee, a co-organizer of the event, said during an interview with Fox News on Monday.

While the event began as a response to the “Million Muslim March,” later renamed the “Million American March Against Fear,” also held Wednesday, the rally quickly changed its focus to the victims of 9/11 and those in the military fighting against terrorism.

For Ciccio, it was still a gratifying experience despite the permit headaches.

“It was overwhelming. The site of all those bikes at the Harley-Davidson dealership there in Washington was something else. It made me feel proud that so many people would show up,” he said. “They did a great job putting it together in such a short time.”

After three days on the road riding in very hot conditions, the Ocala group decided to take the train back home.

“There is a heat index of 110 (degrees) here in Washington. So we decided to spend the extra money and take the auto train back home,” Ciccio said.

<p>It wasn't pretty, but tens of thousands of bikers, including a contingent from the Ocala area, rode in and around Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, despite not having a permit, in remembrance of those killed in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.</p><p>Ocala's Bob Ciccio, who made the 800-mile trip to Washington with several other area riders, decided to make his ride around the city on Interstate 495, also known as the Capital Beltway.</p><p>“I was disappointed I couldn't ride past the capitol, but maybe next year,” he said.</p><p>Thousands of other riders, however, roared through the city on the originally planned route, which toured the area of the National Mall, the site of many of the country's iconic monuments.</p><p>The rally, called “2 Million Bikers to DC,” was quickly put together starting in August. In denying the last-minute permit application by the the group, the National Parks Service said they could not offer the adequate number of escorts and security. But the denial of the permit did not stop many from their original purpose. Because of the denial of the no-stop permit, bikers riding through the city on Wednesday had to stop at all traffic lights and obey traffic laws.</p><p>“We have a constitutional right to ride those streets. We pay taxes. We are tax-paying Americans. We have the right to ride those streets,” Belinda Bee, a co-organizer of the event, said during an interview with Fox News on Monday.</p><p>While the event began as a response to the “Million Muslim March,” later renamed the “Million American March Against Fear,” also held Wednesday, the rally quickly changed its focus to the victims of 9/11 and those in the military fighting against terrorism. </p><p>For Ciccio, it was still a gratifying experience despite the permit headaches.</p><p>“It was overwhelming. The site of all those bikes at the Harley-Davidson dealership there in Washington was something else. It made me feel proud that so many people would show up,” he said. “They did a great job putting it together in such a short time.”</p><p>After three days on the road riding in very hot conditions, the Ocala group decided to take the train back home.</p><p>“There is a heat index of 110 (degrees) here in Washington. So we decided to spend the extra money and take the auto train back home,” Ciccio said.</p>